New research suggests Australia could face serious disruption if shipping is attacked in the Indian Ocean, highlighting how exposed the country is to problems far beyond its own coastline. The study used war game simulations to test what would happen if maritime trade routes were threatened, and the results pointed to a broad vulnerability across the region.
The findings are especially significant for Australia because the vast majority of its global trade moves by sea. Concern over the Strait of Hormuz during a US-Iran conflict has also reinforced how quickly pressure on a major maritime chokepoint can affect countries that depend heavily on open shipping lanes.
According to the research, protecting waters close to Australia is not enough. The simulations indicated that trade security depends on routes stretching across the entire Indian Ocean, meaning disruptions far from Australian territory could still have major consequences for supply chains and national resilience.
The study adds to a wider debate about maritime security, regional strategy and the risks tied to concentrated shipping corridors. Its central message is that Australia’s economic security is closely linked to the safety of sea lanes across the whole Indian Ocean, not just the approaches nearest to home.
